Web Development Trends in 2023, According to Experts & Data
Back in 1983, the internet was born – a revolutionary creation that changed the world forever. Fast forward to the present day, and it has become a sprawling digital landscape, with more than 1.58 billion websites and a jaw-dropping 5 billion daily users. As the internet has evolved, so have the trends in web development.
For website owners, keeping up with the latest trends is critical to ensure optimal performance and user experience. After all, falling behind the curve could have serious consequences for your website’s success.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the top website development trends you can expect to dominate in 2023.
You may be surprised to know that many of the top web development trends for 2023 are already in existence. However, these trends are set to become even more prevalent, making it critical to adopt these best practices sooner rather than later. Let’s dive in and take a closer look.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
While Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) aren’t new, their latest iteration will change the game for web applications. PWAs load quickly and work offline in apps like Google Maps, making them the ideal choice for businesses looking to improve user experience. Companies like Uber, Pinterest, Twitter, and Starbucks are already using PWAs, and in 2023, many more organizations will likely follow suit.
With over 58% of global web traffic in Q2 2022 coming from mobile devices, it’s crucial to revamp web applications into PWAs to ensure optimal performance on smartphones and tablets.
Not only do PWAs provide an exceptional user experience, but they also offer cost savings and seamless maintenance for providers. Additionally, PWAs look and feel like a regular web page, making them easy to use. Expect to see HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, WebAssembly, or Angular being used to write PWAs in 2023.
AI Chatbots
In 2023, AI chatbots will become even more advanced to meet users’ evolving needs. To achieve this, chatbots will leverage machine learning, natural language processing, and information retrieval techniques to match user behaviour more effectively.
AI chatbots not only help companies operate faster using voice or text chats, but they also improve the overall customer experience. Chatbots can collect data, answer frequently asked questions, and resolve other issues, resulting in a seamless digital experience for customers to enjoy.
Leading B2C companies are already using AI chatbots to serve their customers, with marketers’ use of AI increasing by 190% between 2018 and 2020, according to Forbes. In 2023, we can expect AI chatbots to gain even more momentum, functioning within Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype, and other platforms. Get ready for a more personalized and efficient customer service experience with AI chatbots!
Accelerated Mobile Pages
Unbounce reports that almost 70% of consumers consider page speed when deciding to make online purchases, indicating the importance of website speed. To address this concern, Google introduced accelerated mobile pages (AMP) in 2015, which provide lightning-fast digital experiences for mobile users. AMP not only offers seamless user experiences and decreases bounce rates but also has the potential to improve core business metrics, including the number of conversions on web pages.
Although AMP usage has decreased slightly since 2020, it is still the most widely used mobile technology worldwide. About 35% of websites that implement mobile technologies and more than half of the top 10,000 websites use AMP, indicating its continued relevance in the market.
Single-Page Applications
Single-page applications (SPAs) are a recent and significant trend in web development. They are JavaScript-based web applications that load a single HTML page in a visitor’s browser and dynamically update content without requiring a page refresh. SPAs have been widely adopted by the development community, including major companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter.
SPAs offer better website performance, as users can access the website without loading an entirely new page from the server. While maintaining SPAs requires more effort, the tradeoff is worth it. In addition, SPAs are cost-effective, easy to create using the popular AngularJS framework, and consume less server space. They provide users with information on a single page, eliminating the need to navigate around the site.
As online consumers demand faster and more straightforward app experiences, the SPA trend is expected to continue in the coming year.
Optimized Voice Search
Since its launch in 2011, voice search has been gaining popularity at a rapid pace. Intelligent virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri have shown remarkable market growth in recent years and are expected to continue to do so, according to an analysis by Grand View Research.
Statistics from Google show that 27% of people use voice search on mobile devices, while a Microsoft study reveals that 72% of users have interacted with a digital assistant within the past six months. To meet consumer demand, more tech giants are entering the market or launching new products, such as Google Home and Apple HomePod. Additionally, more than half of US adults now own a smart home device, which further indicates the increasing relevance of voice search.
Smart speakers are not the only devices used for conducting voice searches; smartphones and IoT devices are also commonly used. Consequently, voice search results are expected to rank higher and more frequently on search engine results pages. Therefore, companies will focus on optimizing their products and content strategies for voice search in 2023.
WordPress Development
With its presence on over 40% of all websites, the WordPress CMS is a significant player in the web development world. As an open-source platform, WordPress continually adds new features to meet the changing needs of its users. There are several WordPress-specific web development trends to watch out for.
In the upcoming year, WordPress is expected to undergo some significant changes. For example, a new navigation structure will make for a more intuitive user experience. This revamp aims to bring together the post editor and template experiences, which are currently separate. Additionally, WordPress is introducing new design tools to help bring websites to life.
Also Read: How to Choose the Right Freelancer for Your Web Development Project
Motion UI
Motion UI has become a popular trend in web development, as consumers demand more interactive and engaging digital experiences. With Motion UI, developers can use predefined motions to build fully responsive websites and mobile applications. This front-end framework allows for elements to slide, spin, bounce, transition, and more, creating a more dynamic user experience.
One of the key benefits of Motion UI is its compatibility with all web technologies and its flexibility to be added anywhere on a website. It’s often implemented in areas like the header, footer, and menus. While Motion UI gained traction in 2018, it has become more accessible in 2023 thanks to the use of SASS libraries. As a result, Motion UI remains a leading trend in web development.
Serverless Architecture
Serverless technology has been in high demand due to its ability to reduce system overloading, data loss, and development costs.
The serverless architecture is built on cloud technology, which allows users to run code for various applications or backend services with no administration. No need for server provisioning, managing, or upgrading. Tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have been leading examples in using and providing serverless architecture.
In 2022, the serverless architecture market value reached $36.84 billion. This indicates the potential for more companies to enter this market in 2023 and beyond. In addition, we can expect more chatbots, IoT apps, and APIs to utilize serverless functions for tasks such as downloading file backups, delivering notifications, and exporting objects.
Also Read: 10 Essential Questions to Ask When Hiring a Web Development Freelancer
Responsive Site Design
Responsive design has never been more critical than it is now. With mobile devices accounting for over 58% of web traffic worldwide, it’s clear that taking a mobile-first approach to web development has become essential. Additionally, nearly three-quarters of global e-commerce sales are completed on mobile.
Of course, many developers have already been taking a mobile-first approach for years. However, what it means to be “mobile-friendly” is constantly evolving. In 2023, it means incorporating geolocation data to deliver highly personalized experiences to users, offering one-click ordering on e-commerce apps, and integrating biometric authentication like fingerprint scanning or voice recognition, among other trends. Implementing responsive design has many benefits, including a more seamless user experience for visitors and enhancing brand reputation.
Dark Mode Standardization
Dark mode has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more websites and apps offering dark mode user interfaces (UIs). This trend is set to continue in 2023, as studies show that at least 8 out of 10 users prefer to use dark mode whenever possible.
Facebook and Twitter are among the apps that have already implemented this feature, allowing users to easily toggle between the two modes based on their preferences or system settings. As website personalization becomes increasingly important, it’s essential to provide a completely customized experience for visitors.
As more web developers incorporate built-in features to switch between light and dark modes, it’s expected that this will become the standard in 2023 and beyond. It may even become the default for applications.
Also Read: Web Development Best Practices for Freelancers
Improved Native Cybersecurity
In 2023, cybersecurity remains a top priority for all companies, regardless of size, as the risk of cyber attacks continues to grow. The recent LinkedIn data breach, in which hackers stole the personal information of 700 million users, highlights the vulnerability of even the biggest companies. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, in particular, have doubled each quarter in 2020, according to CDN provider Cloudflare, resulting in significant downtime, revenue loss, and reputational damage.
To counter this, website development has evolved to make it easier to protect both company and customer data. Multi-factor authentication using application-based tools such as Google Authenticator, patch management, and Security Operation Centers (SOC) are already in use. However, beyond traditional tools like monitoring and analytics, developers are exploring new methods to improve cybersecurity. Danny Wajcman, Co-Founder and COO of Lucky Orange, emphasizes the importance of human monitoring in addition to automation. He believes that session recordings can help detect security threats such as DDoS attacks or excessive bot traffic, and that understanding daily traffic trends and visitor journeys can help identify potential security issues.
CONCLUSION
The web development landscape is constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends to ensure optimal website performance and user experience. In 2023, we can expect to see an increase in the adoption of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), AI chatbots, Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), Single-Page Applications (SPAs), optimized voice search, and WordPress development. As technology continues to advance and consumer preferences change, website owners and developers must stay ahead of the curve and embrace these trends to remain competitive in the digital marketplace.